Boris Vyacheslavich
Encyclopedia
Boris Vyacheslavich (c.
1053 – October 3, 1078) was a prince of Tmutarakan
, son of Vyacheslav Yaroslavich (prince of Smolensk
). Boris was izgoi
from the Rurikid dynasty of Kievan Rus’.
Upon the death of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich in 1077, his brothers Vsevolod Yaroslavich and Izyaslav Yaroslavich started a bitter rivalry over the Kiev
an throne. Vsevolod left Chernigov and headed towards Izyaslav, who had set out on a military campaign against Kiev. Boris Vyacheslavich took advantage of his uncle's absence and seized control of Chernigov. He only managed to remain in power for 8 days and then had to flee to Tmutarakan upon hearing the news of Vsevolod's return. In Tmutarakan, Boris was accepted by Roman Svyatoslavich. The two were soon joined by Oleg Svyatoslavich
, the second son of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, who had been banished by his uncles from the Vladimir
region. In 1078, Boris and Oleg allied themselves with the Polovtsy and attacked Vsevolod on the Orzhitsa River (Sozhitsa River), defeating his army in a bloody battle and capturing Chernigov. Soon, Vsevolod and Izyaslav were able to muster a new army with the help of their sons and headed for Chernigov. Boris and Oleg had already left the city by the time Vsevolod and Izyaslav approached it, but the citizens of Chernigov closed the gates and prepared for the siege
. The attackers burned the outer parts of the city and wanted to proceed further, but received the news on Oleg and Boris coming to Chernigov's rescue. Oleg tried to convince his cousin Boris not to seek direct confrontation with the four princes and to ask for mercy, but Boris decided to take them on. Boris Vyacheslavich died in a fierce battle at a village of Nezhatina Niva on October 3 of 1078.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1053 – October 3, 1078) was a prince of Tmutarakan
Tmutarakan
Tmutarakan was a Mediaeval Russian principality and trading town that controlled the Cimmerian Bosporus, the passage from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Its site was the ancient Greek colony of Hermonassa . It was situated on the Taman peninsula, in the present-day Krasnodar Krai of Russia,...
, son of Vyacheslav Yaroslavich (prince of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
). Boris was izgoi
Izgoi
Izgoi is a term found in medieval Kievan Rus'. In primary documents, it is used to indicate orphans protected by the church. In historiographic writing on the period, it meant a prince in Kievan Rus' who was excluded from succession to the Kievan throne because his father had not held the throne...
from the Rurikid dynasty of Kievan Rus’.
Upon the death of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich in 1077, his brothers Vsevolod Yaroslavich and Izyaslav Yaroslavich started a bitter rivalry over the Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
an throne. Vsevolod left Chernigov and headed towards Izyaslav, who had set out on a military campaign against Kiev. Boris Vyacheslavich took advantage of his uncle's absence and seized control of Chernigov. He only managed to remain in power for 8 days and then had to flee to Tmutarakan upon hearing the news of Vsevolod's return. In Tmutarakan, Boris was accepted by Roman Svyatoslavich. The two were soon joined by Oleg Svyatoslavich
Oleg I of Chernigov
Oleg Svyatoslavich of Chernigiv , sometimes also styled as of Tmutarakan, was a Rurikid prince whose equivocal adventures ignited political unrest in Kievan Rus at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries....
, the second son of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, who had been banished by his uncles from the Vladimir
Vladimir
Vladimir is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, to the east of Moscow along the M7 motorway. Population:...
region. In 1078, Boris and Oleg allied themselves with the Polovtsy and attacked Vsevolod on the Orzhitsa River (Sozhitsa River), defeating his army in a bloody battle and capturing Chernigov. Soon, Vsevolod and Izyaslav were able to muster a new army with the help of their sons and headed for Chernigov. Boris and Oleg had already left the city by the time Vsevolod and Izyaslav approached it, but the citizens of Chernigov closed the gates and prepared for the siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
. The attackers burned the outer parts of the city and wanted to proceed further, but received the news on Oleg and Boris coming to Chernigov's rescue. Oleg tried to convince his cousin Boris not to seek direct confrontation with the four princes and to ask for mercy, but Boris decided to take them on. Boris Vyacheslavich died in a fierce battle at a village of Nezhatina Niva on October 3 of 1078.